Image – Wikimedia / Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Peperomia watermelon, commercial name by which the species is known Peperomia argyreiais that of a herb of tropical origin that has small, but very pretty leaves. It does not grow much; Moreover, it is normal that it does not exceed ten centimeters in height. The roots are superficial, and short, so we are talking about a plant that can be in a pot, something that, on the other hand, is necessary if it is grown in an area where winters are cold.
It grows at a slow but steady rate, although it will stop in autumn or winter if the temperature drops below 18 degrees Celsius. And it is that it is a plant that loves heat if it is not extremeso we will only see it ‘active’ in spring and summer.
What is the origin of the peperomia watermelon?
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
peperomia watermelon is a small perennial herb that grows in the tropical regions of Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela. It grows in places where there is a lot of light, but we will always find it in protected areas, as it does not tolerate direct sun.
In popular language it receives various names, such as garden meloncito, watermelon peperomia, watermelon peperomia, or even watermelon begonia, despite the fact that it has no relation to begonias.
What are their characteristics?
It is a compact plant, which reaches a height of about 30 centimeters and that reaches more or less the same width. It grows forming a basal rosette of leaves, from whose center the new ones sprout as well as the flowers. These leaves are rounded, pointed, green with white lines and a long reddish petiole. These are its main attraction.
As for the flowers, they are grouped in an inflorescence about 10 centimeters high by less than half a centimeter wide, and they are white.
care guide for Peperomia argyreia
Image – Wikimedia Commons / David J. Stang
Let’s move on to talking about care, since peperomias in general and the Peperomia argyreia in particular they are very delicate. If the climate is tropical; that is, if the temperatures remain between a minimum of 18ºC and a maximum of 30 or 35ºC, and if the air humidity is also high, either because it rains frequently and/or because you are near the sea, river or swamp, then It will not be very difficult for you to keep it beautiful, because those are the conditions it needs to grow well.
Now, when it is grown in a country like Spain, where there are very few places where these conditions exist, things get complicated. As we said before, cold is one of its main enemies, so if there is, we will have no choice but to keep it indoorseither during the autumn and winter months, or throughout the year.
Therefore, let’s see how to take care of it:
Indoors or outdoors?
peperomia watermelon It can be both indoors and outdoors as long as there are no frosts.. If it is going to be indoors, we will place it in a room where there is a lot of light, a little away from the window so that it does not suffer burns. Likewise, it is very important that it is not exposed to air currents, such as those generated by the fan or the air conditioning device, since these dry out the environment, and cause the ends to burn.
If it is going to be outside, we will put it in shadein an area where there is a lot of light. For example, a good place could be under the shade of a not very leafy tree.
In a pot or in the ground?
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
Of course, if it is going to be at home, there will be no choice but to have it in a pot. But if you intend to grow it outside, even if there is frost in your area, you can decide whether to plant it in the garden or not since if that is the case, you could plant it with the pot so that in autumn it would be easy for you to take it out and put it back inside. But in any case, you must keep in mind that the soil must be rich in organic matter and well drained.
Thus, in a pot it is advisable to use a universal substrate for plants whose mixture contains perlite like this. And if the garden soil is compact, you will have to dig a hole about 50 x 50 centimeters and fill it with that substrate, or mix the garden soil with 50% clay.
When is it watered?
Peperomia watermelon is a plant that you have to water from time to timewith rain or fresh water. Avoid watering with water rich in lime, since this would clog the pores of the leaves.
Likewise, it is necessary to ensure that the soil always remains somewhat moist, but not waterlogged. So that problems do not arise, we recommend checking the humidity of the soil as indicated in this video, and watering if it is dry:
If the humidity of the air is very low, in addition to watering, we will have to spray the plant daily so that it does not suffer damage. But beware, I insist: only if it is low, less than 50%. And it is that if it is high and we pulverize it, what we will achieve is that it fills with fungi and rots. You have more information in this article.
When do you have to pay it?
The peperomia watermelon will appreciate being paid while it grows, that is, in spring and in summer. To do this, we can apply fertilizers such as guano (for sale here!) or compost.
Did you like the Peperomia argyreia?
